Spreader



Jan. 11, 1966 w, M N 3,228,311

SPREADER Filed May 15, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F\@. lo

JNVENTOR. W\LL\AM F Mensa.

ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,228,311 SPREADER William F. Mengel, F.F. Mengel (10., Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. Filed May 15, 1962, Ser. No.194,818 13 Claims. (Cl. 94-46) This invention relates to machines fordistributing concrete or like material and, more particularly, to aconveyer type concrete spreader as used for roadway paving.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine for spreadingconcrete and like material which will afford great versatility withrespect to loading concrete onto the machine while insuring effectivedischarge of concrete onto a defined roadway.

Another, more specific object of this invention is to provide a machinefor spreading concrete and like material incorporating an elongatedconveyer which can be made to assume a variety of positions relative tothe roadway for most facile loading.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a concrete spreaderwherein the point from which concrete is loaded onto the spreader can bevaried as desired and still provide a full sweep of the conveyer withinthe defined roadway.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mobile concretespreader which is readily adjusted to varying roadway widths.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a mobile concretespreader which operates effectively even on a rough and uneven roadway.

A more general object of this invention is to provide all of the abovestated objects while maintaining a relatively simple structure.

For the achievement of these and other objects, I propose to provide aconcrete spreader which includes means for supporting an elongatedconveyer for movement relative to the paving forms so as to position oneend of the conveyer for most facile concrete loading. With the conveyerin a desired position the supporting means is operative to hold theloading end of the conveyer relative to the forms and to swing theopposite end of the conveyer between the forms. Thus the loading end ofthe conveyer becomes a pivot point about which the discharge end swingsin an are between the forms. Furthermore, the spreader includes carriagemeans which extends laterally of the spreader and is adjustable relativethereto to vary the amount of that extension so that the spreader canadjust to varying roadway widths; the carriage means is also verticallyadjustable relative to the spreader and the frame and support membersare so arranged and constructed as to be capable of riding over a roughand uneven roadway without unduly stressing the members of the spreader.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in, or be apparentfrom, the specification and claims, as will obvious modifications of theembodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the spreader;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the pivotal mounting of each of the boomson the support frame;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the support for the discharge end of theconveyer;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 77 of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate the various positions of the spreader conveyer;

Patented J an. 11, M366 FIG. 11 is a section view along lines 1111 ofFIG. 2; and

FIG. 12 is a section view along lines 12-12 of FIG. 11.

With particular reference to the drawings, the spreader includes a mainframe 10 and a boom and conveyer assembly 12 suspended from the frame.The boom and conveyor assembly is shown as being supported below themain frame, however, it could be positioned above the frame if desired.A platform 14 is supported at the rear end of the spreader and carries apower source 18 which, in a manner well known in the art, provides thepower whereby the spreader is self-propelled.

The main frame comprises upper longitudinal structural members 20, 20and lower longitudinal structural members 22, 27. A set of transversestructural members 24, 26, 3t) and 32 connect the upper longitudinalmembers with a similar set of transverse structural members connectingthe lower longitudinal members. A trans-. verse member 28 also extendsbetween longitudinal members 20, 20 and, in addition to performing thesame function as the other transverse members, it also functions tosupport the boom and conveyer assembly as will be discussed morecompletely hereinafter.

Carriage means 36 and 38 are positioned at the front and rear ends,respectively, of frame 10 and each comprise a pair of structural members40 and 42 telescoped within a second pair of structural members 44 and46. Each carriage means also includes a wheel assembly 48 supported fromeach pair of the structural members with the structural membersextending laterally of the frame to position the wheel assemblies at apoint outside of forms 49. Each wheel assembly 48 is made up of a pairof vertical members 50 and 52 connected to the ends of the telescopingmembers and to a plate 54; A U-shaped bracket 56 is rotatably connectedto plate 54 by pin 57 and carries a wheel 59. Each wheel assembly 48 canalso be provided with suitable means for adjusting vertical members 50and 52 so that the main frame of the machine can be leveled in the eventthat the wheels on one side of the machine are riding at an elevationdifferent from that of the wheels on the other side of the machine. Forexample and with reference to FIG. 3, the vertical members can beconnected to plate 61 by bolts 63 with each vertical member beingprovided with a series of vertically aligned apertures for receiving thebolts. Hydraulic cylinders 60, selectively operable from control station16, are provided to move brackets 56 and wheels 59 so that individualcontrol can be had over each wheel.

Hydraulic cylinders 62, 62 are connected between structural members 44and 20 and hydraulic cylinders 64, 64 are connected between structuralmembers 20 and 42. These hydraulic cylinders are also selectivelycontrolled from control station 16 and are operative to produce relativetelescoping movement between the pairs of structural members 45-42 and44-46. In this manner the spreader can be readily adjusted toaccommodate varying road widths.

Carriage means 38 is supported in a boggie assembly 25 positioned in abay 23 defined by transverse members 30 and 32. For obvious reasons ofclarity the boggie assembly has not been illustrated in detail in FIGS.1 and 2. However it has been shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 and withparticular reference to those figures, boggie assembly comprisesstructural members 27, 29, 31, 33 and 35 extending between end plates 37and 39. A pair of channel members 41 and 43 extend along the top, centerof the boggie assembly and have a pair of relatively spaced platemembers 45 and 47 fixed therebetween. Shaft 49 extends through platemembers 45 and 47 and is supported from upper transverse members 30 and32. Four plate members 51 are located at the point of shaft support toprovide an adequate bearing structure. Thus, the boggie assembly ispivotally supported from the frame. The boggie assembly is also providedwith plates 53 and 55 spaced from end plates 37 and 39 and formingtherewith a guide way for telescoping members 40, 42, 44 and 46. In thismanner, the telescoping members are firmly supported in the boggi-eassembly and are capable, in addition to telescoping movement, ofpivotal movement about an axis defined by shaft 49 so that the mainframe need not flex as one Wheel of the spreader raises or lowers asitcomes in contact with a bump or hole.

Boom and conveyer assembly 12 includes boom assemblies 66 and 68supporting a conveyer assembly 76. The boom assemblies are arranged endto end and extend longitudinally of the spreader with each including aboom 70 and 72. The free end of boom 70 is connected to one end ofconveyer assembly 76 through means 74 (see FIG. 3) which includes abracket 73 engaging the conveyer and connected by a pin 75 to hinge andplate assembly 77 which is in turn connected to boom 70 so that somerelative rotational movement between the boom and the conveyer assemblyis possible. The free end of boom 72 supports the opposite end ofconveyer assembly 76 through means 78 which will be described morecompletely hereinafter.

Structurally boom assembly 66 includes a vertical member 80 attached toboom 70 and an angularly disposed brace 82 extending from the top ofvertical member 80 to a point on boom 70. Similarly, boom assembly 68includes a vertical member 84 fixed to boom 72 and an angular brace 86extending from the top of vertical member 84 to a point on boom 72.

The boom assemblies 66 and 68 are arranged end-to end so that, withrespect to each other, they have adjacent and remote ends. The adjacentends are pivotally supported from transversely extending upper and lowerstructural members 28, 28. More particularly, upper structural member 28preferably takes the form of an I-beam and has four plates 88 welded toits upper and lower flanges and extending laterally on either side ofits web portion. A bracket 90 is connected to the upper end of verticalmember 80 and a bracket 92 is connected to the upper end of verticalmember 84 and each bracket extends between a pair of plates 88. Pins 94and 96 are inserted through plates 88 and brackets 90 and 92 to completethe hinge connection about which the upper ends of boom assemblies 66and 68 can be pivoted. In like manner, four plates 98 are connected tothe flanges of lower I-beam 28, brackets 100 and 102 are connected tobooms 70 and 72 respectively and pins 104 and 106 connect the bracketsto the plates to complete the hinge connection for the lower end of theboom assemblies. Thus the boom assemblies are mounted for independentpivotal movement relative to the main frame.

Hydraulic cylinders 108 and 110 are connected between the main frame andboom assemblies 66 and 68, respectively, and can be independently andjointly operated from control station 16. The hydraulic cylinders 108and 110 operative, when activated, to pivot their respective boomassembly and also operative, when not activated, to hold, or lock, theirrespective boom assembly in position so that boom assemblies 66 and 68can be pivoted about their inner ends jointly or independently of eachother.

With particular reference to FIGS. 8-10, it can be seen that conveyerassembly 76 can be made to assume a variety of positions relative toforms 49. More particularly and with reference to FIGS. 2 and 8, withthe conveyer assembly located centrally of the forms broom assembly 66can be locked in position by hydraulic cylinder 108 and a concretehauling vehicle 111, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, is driven betweenthe roadway forms the left, or loading, end of the conveyer becomes itsivot point and actuation of boom assembly 68 swings the right end ofconveyer 76 .in an arc about the loading end and between the roadwayforms.

As can be seen in FIG. 9, booms 66 and 68 can be actuated to positionthe left end of the conveyer adjacent one of the roadway forms forloading of concrete. The left end remains the loading end and in thisinstance the conveyer can be loaded from a point inside of the forms,or, if desired, from a point outside of the forms without requiring longextension chutes. Again boom 66 is locked in position by hydrauliccylinder 108 and boom 68 actuated to swing the right end of the conveyerin an are between the forms to distribute concrete evenly onto thedefined'roadway.

With reference to FIG. 10, the conveyer can be pivoted about itsmid-point by actuating one of the booms or by actuating both of thebooms simultaneously. As can be seen, the conveyer can be pivoted toposition the left end outside of either side of the forms as desired.With the conveyer so positioned it can be loaded from a point outside ofthe forms with the right end capable of swinging in an are about theloading end between the forms to discharge concrete.

In each of these arrangements the left end of the conveyer becomes theloading end and also the pivot point with the right end becoming thedischarge end. Accordingly, great versatility is afforded with regard toloading concrete onto the conveyer while still providing for a fullsweep of the discharge end of the conveyer over the defined roadway foreffective concrete distribution. The loading end of the conveyer can bepositioned at any point within the roadway forms or with its loading endat a point outside of the roadway forms.

When the conveyer is pivoted about its left, or loading, end there willbe a tendency for the conveyer assembly to move relative to boomassembly 68 and means 78 is provided to accommodate this relativemovement. With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, it Will be seen that means 78includes a U-shaped bracket 112 connected to boom 72, with theconnection being made by pin 113 to allow for some relative rotationalmovement between the boom and bracket 112. Two pairs of rollers 114 aresupported from bracket 112 on opposite sides of conveyer 76. Rollers 114engage the upper flange 116 of channel members 118 which form a portionof the structure of the conveyer 76 and allow the conveyer to moverelative to boom 72 as the conveyer pivots about its left end.

Loading concrete onto the conveyer at the point about which the conveyerpivots minimizes the problem of concrete spillage and, further in thisregard, the conveyer belt 120 is supported in a generally dishedcondition for substantially the entire length of the conveyer assemblyso as to minimize spillage as the concrete is transported by the belt.More particularly, and with reference to FIG. 7, the conveyer structureincludes a horizontal plate 124 extending between channel members 118.Angular plates 122 reinforce the connection of the channel members tothe horizontal plate and also support elongated members 123, 123 whichengage the endless belt holding it in a generally dished condition.

The spreader also includes a suitable strike-off screed 126 and a pusherassembly 134 for engaging vehicle 111 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Thestrike-off screed,'which may take any suitable form, is carried bysupport means 128 which is pivotally connected to platform 14 at hinge130. A cable 129 is connected to support means 128 and extends to means131, such as a suitable ram and lever arrangement (not shown), forraising and lowering the screed into and out of engagement with theforms.

With regard to the pusher assembly, it includes two elongated members138 and each pivotally connected at one end to frame 10 at brackets 136and 137. Each member 138 and 140 is provided with a reinforcingstructure 139 and are connected to horizontal member 148; which ispositioned to engage frame 150 of vehicle 111,

A latching mechanism (not shown) such as is disclosed and claimed in myoo-pending application Ser. No. 825,318 filed July 6, 1959 for Machinefor Spreading Concrete and Other Road Materials may be provided topositively latch the spreader to the vehicle. The pusher assembly 134also includes a suitable ram and cable arrangement 151 for raising andlowering the pusher to adjust the position of members 148. It should benoted that the pivotal connection of the pusher assembly to the spreaderframe allows for relative movement therebetween so that relativedisplacement between the two can occur Without unduly stressing thestructural members of either.

The area between the forms is fine graded preparatory to pouringconcrete and in order to smooth any areas which might be disturbed whenvehicle 111 is driven between the forms a planer assembly is preferablyincluded in the spreader. The planer assembly includes a scraper 152extending between the forms and supported therefrom on wheels 153. Arms154 extend from carriage means 36 and are pivotally connected to scraper152 by pins 155 so that the scraper will be pushed along as the spreadermoves relative to the forms. Arms 154 are also pivotally connected tothe carriage means so that the scraper will not be raised off the groundby vertical movement of the spreader. Each arm 154 carries a ram 156which is also connected to the scraper so that actuation of the rams,from station 16, will pivot the scraper about pins 155 onto the rearpair of wheels 153 so that the scraper can be selectively raised whenthe spreader is driven in reverse and lowered when the spreader movesforward to engage the ground as desired. It will be appreciated that thescraper could be carried at other points on the spreader; however, itsconnection to the pusher assembly is preferred as it is then placed atthe forward most point on the spreader.

The spreader constructed in accordance with my invention incorporates asingle continuous conveyer which can be positioned for most facileconcrete loading andstill provide effective distribution of concreteonto the roadway by providing a full sweep of the discharge end of theconveyer between the forms. Furthermore, the spreader can be readilyadjusted to various roadway widths through the provision of theadjustable carriage means, in this respect it will be appreciated thatthe strike-off screed can be removed and replaced by a suitable widthscreed where necessary and, similarly, the planer assembly can bechanged, or removed entirely if desired, to accommodate the particularroadway width. The spreader is not affected by an uneven or roughroadway and will, or can be made to, hold the main frame and conveyerand boom assemblies generally horizontal either through the interactionof its structural members or adjustment of its wheel assemblies. It willbe noted that although a highly versatile and effective concretespreader has been provided the structure is still relatively simple.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for spreading concrete and like material adapted to movealong a defined roadway and comprising, in combination, an elongatedframe having a longitudinal axis, at least a pair of carriage meanspositioned at longitudinally spaced apart points along said frame andextending transversely of said frame axis and laterally on either sideof said frame, means supporting said carriage means for movementtransversely of said frame axis to adjust the amount of said lateralextension, an elongated conveyer extending generally longitudinally ofsaid frame, first and second elongated booms arranged end to end andextending longitudinally of said conveyer,

means pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of each of said booms tosaid frame, means connecting the remote ends of each of said booms tosaid conveyer adjacent the opposite ends thereof and providing a pivotalconnection between said conveyer and said booms, and operating meansconnected to and operative selectively to move said booms jointly andindependently about their pivotal connections relative to said frame andalso operative selectively to lock said booms against movement relativeto said frame so that said conveyer is selectively pivotable about eachof said points of connection of said booms to said conveyer and aboutapoint intermediate said points of connection of said booms to saidconveyer.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said carriage meanscomprise elongated members extending from both sides of said frame andsupported for movement relative to each other to vary said lateralextension, and means adjustably connecting said wheel assemblies to saidelongated members for adjusting said wheel assemblies verticallyrelative to said elongated members.

3. The combination of claim 1 including means providing a pivotalconnection between said frame and at least one of said carriage meansfor pivotal movement of said one carriage means relative to said framein a vertical plane and about an axis extending longitudinally of saidframe.

4. The combination of claim 2 including means for supporting one set ofsaid elongated members for said movement relative to each other and forpivotal movement with respect to said frame in a vertical plane andabout an axis extending longitudinally of said frame.

5. The combination of claim 2 including strike-off means carried fromand disposed rearwardly of said apparatus, planer means, and meanssupporting said planer means forwardly of and for adjustable verticalmovement relative to said apparatus.

6. Apparatus for distributing concrete and like material and comprising,in combination, a frame, elongated conveyor means, first and secondsupport means connected to said conveyor means at longitudinally spacedpoints thereon and each including means providing a pivotal connectionbetween said support means and said conveyor means so that said conveyormeans is movable with and with respect to said support means, meansconnecting said support means to said frame for movement with respectthereto, and operating means 0peratively connected to each ofsaidsupport means and operative to move said support means and conveyormeans relative to said frame and further operative selectively to lockat least one of said support means against movement relative to saidframe-and move the other of said support means and said conveyor meansrelative to said frame so that said conveyor means can be pivotedrelative to said frame about the connection between said conveyor andsaid one locked support means.

7. The combination of claim 6 including carriage means extendinglaterally of said frame and also including means connecting saidcarriage means to said frame for adjustable movement with respect tosaid frame to vary the amount of lateral extension of said carriagemeans.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said carriage means includeelongated support members extending laterally of said frame, wheelassemblies connected to said support member, and means connecting saidsupport members to said frame for pivotal movement in a vertical planeand about a horizontal axis extending longitudinally in said frame.

9. Apparatus for distributing concrete and like material and comprising,in combination, a frame, elongated conveyor, means supporting saidconveyor on said frame for movement relative thereto, said support meansincluding first and second elongated boom means extending generallylongitudinally of said conveyor means, means pivotally connecting oneend of each of said boom means to said frame, means connecting theopposite end of each of said boom means to said conveyor means andproviding a pivotal connection between each of said boom means and saidconveyor means with said first boom means being connected to saidconveyor means adjacent an end of said conveyor means, and operatingmeans connected to each of said boom means and operative selectively tomove said first and second boom means jointly and independently relativeto said frame about the pivotal connection of said boom means to saidframe to effect movement of said conveyor means in said apparatus andalso operative selectively to lock said first boom means againstmovement relative to said frame so that said conveyor means can bepivoted about an end thereof by locking said first boom means and movingsaid second boom means.

10. Apparatus for distributing concrete and like material andcomprising, in combination, a frame, an elongated conveyor, first andsecond elongated booms arranged end-to-end and extending longitudinallyof said conveyor, means pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of eachof said booms to said frame, means connecting the other end of each ofthe booms to said conveyor adjacent the opposite end of said conveyorand providing a pivotal connection between said booms and said conveyor,and means connected between said frame and said boom means and operativeselectively to pivot said booms jointly and independently relative tosaid frame and also operative to selectively lock said booms againstmovement relative to said frame so that said conveyor is movable in saidapparatus and is selectively pivotal about each of its ends.

11. Apparatus for distributing concrete and like material andcomprising, in combination, a frame, elongated conveyor means, first andsecond boom means, means connecting said first and second boom means toand for movement with respect to said frame, means connecting each ofsaid boom means to said conveyor means adjacent the opposite end of saidconveyor means and providing a pivotal connection between said boommeans adjacent the opposite ends of said conveyor means connectedbetween said frame and said boom means and operative selectively to movesaid boom means with respect to said frame and lock said boom meansagainst movement with respect to said frame so that said boom means canbe moved jointly to move said conveyor means relative to said frame andindependently to move said conveyor means about one of the ends thereofand about a point intermediate the ends thereof.

12. Apparatus for distributing concrete and like material adapted tomove along a defined roadway and comprising, in combination, anelongated frame, means carried by said frame for distributing saidmaterial onto said roadway, two carriage means disposed atlongitudinally spaced apart points on said frame and each includingoppositely directed support members extending laterally of both sides ofsaid frame, support means connecting the support members of each of saidcarriage means for movement relative to each other and in a transversedirection relative to said frame to adjust the amount of lateralextension of said support members, said support means including meansconnecting the support members of each of said carriage means to saidframe for pivotal movement with respect to said frame in a verticalplane and about an axis extending longitudinally of said frame, andwheel assemblies connected to the ends of the support members of each ofsaid carriage means.

13. Apparatus for distributing concrete and like material adapted tomove along a defined roadway and comprising, in combination, anelongated frame, means car ried by said frame for distributing saidmaterial onto said roadway, two carriage means disposed atlongitudinally spaced apart points on said frame and each includingoppositely directed support members extending laterally of both sides ofsaid frame, support means connecting the support members of each of saidcarriage means for movement relative to each other and in a transversedirection relative to said frame to adjust the amount of lateralextension of said support members, said support means also including aboggie assembly engaging and defining guides for movement of the supportmembers of one of said carriage means relative to each other and saidframe and means defining a horizontal axis extending longitudinally ofsaid frame and connecting said boggie assembly and said support membersof said one carriage means to said frame for pivotal movement about saidaxis, and wheel assemblies connected to the ends of the support membersof each of said carriage means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,038,588 9/1912Iverson 198-124 1,754,533 4/1930 Kirk 9439 1,965,000 7/1934 Porter,l98124 1,977,850 10/1934 Heltzel 9439 2,078,863 4/1937 Lundbye 94-44 X2,844,882 7/1958 Earley et al.

2,960,208 11/1960 Sibley et al. 94-46 X 2,962,949 12/ 1960 ODea 94453,107,592 10/1963 Mengel 94--46 CHARLES E, OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Examiner.

10. APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING CONCRETE AND LIKE MATERIAL ANDCOMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FRAME, AN ELONGATED CONVEYOR, FIRST ANDSECOND ELONGATED BOOMS ARRANGED END-TO-END AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLYOF SAID CONVEYOR, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE ADJACENT ENDS OF EACHOF SAID BOOMS TO SAID FRAME, MEANS CONNECTING THE OTHER END OF EACH OFTHE BOOMS TO SAID CONVEYOR ADJACENT THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID CONVEYORAND PROVIDING A PIVOTAL CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID BOOMS AND SAID CONVEYOR,AND MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID FRAME AND SAID BOOM MEANS AND OPERATIVESELECTIVELY TO PIVOT SAI BOOMS JOINTLY AND INDEPENDENTLY RELATIVE TOSAID FRAME AND ALSO OPERATIVE TO SELECTIVELY LOCK SAID B OOMS AGAINSTMOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME SO THAT SAID CONVEYOR IS MOVABLE IN SAIDAPPARATUS AND IS SELECTIVELY PIVOTAL ABOUT EACH OF ITS ENDS.